Introduction to the Eighth Edition

vii

Part A

Introduction to Research Methods

1

  1. Introduction to Empirical Research

3

  2. Experimental versus Nonexperimental Studies

5

  3. Experimental versus Causal-Comparative Studies

7

  4. Types of Nonexperimental Research

9

  5. Variables in Nonexperimental Studies

11

  6. Variables in Experimental Studies

13

  7. Research Hypotheses, Purposes, and Questions

15

  8. Operational Definitions of Variables

17

  9. Quantitative versus Qualitative Research: I

19

10. Quantitative versus Qualitative Research: II

21

11. Program Evaluation

23

12. Ethical Considerations in Research

25

13. The Role of Theory in Research

27

Part B

Reviewing Literature

29

14. Reasons for Reviewing Literature

31

15. Locating Literature Electronically

33

16. Organizing a Literature Review

35

17. Preparing to Write a Critical Review

37

18. Creating a Synthesis

39

19. Citing References

41

Part C

Sampling

43

20. Biased and Unbiased Sampling

45

21. Simple Random and Systematic Sampling

47

22. Stratified Random Sampling

49

23. Other Methods of Sampling

51

24. Sampling and Demographics

53

25. Introduction to Sample Size

55

26. A Closer Look at Sample Size

57

Part D

Measurement

59

27. Introduction to Validity

61

28. Judgmental Validity

63

29. Empirical Validity

65

30. Judgmental-Empirical Validity

69

31. Reliability and Its Relationship to Validity

73

32. Measures of Reliability

77

33. Internal Consistency and Reliability

79

34. Norm- and Criterion-Referenced Tests

81

35. Measures of Optimum Performance

83

36. Measures of Typical Performance

85

Part E

Experimental Design

87

37. True Experimental Designs

89

38. Threats to Internal Validity

91

39. Threats to External Validity

93

40. Preexperimental Designs

95

41. Quasi-Experimental Designs

97

42. Confounding in Experiments

99

Part F

Understanding Statistics

101

43. Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

103

44. Introduction to the Null Hypothesis

105

45. Scales of Measurement

107

46. Descriptions of Nominal Data

109

47. Introduction to the Chi-Square Test

111

48. A Closer Look at the Chi-Square Test

113

49. Shapes of Distributions

115

50. The Mean, Median, and Mode

117

51. The Mean and Standard Deviation

119

52. The Median and Interquartile Range

121

53. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient

123

54. The t Test

125

55. One-Way Analysis of Variance

127

56. Two-Way Analysis of Variance

129

57. Practical Significance of Results

131

Part G

Effect Size and Meta-Analysis

133

58. Introduction to Effect Size (d )

135

59. Interpretation of Effect Size (d )

137

60. Effect Size and Correlation (r)

139

61. Introduction to Meta-Analysis

141

62. Meta-Analysis and Effect Size

143

63. Meta-Analysis: Strengths and Weaknesses

145

Part H

Qualitative Research

147

64. Sampling in Qualitative Research: I

149

65. Sampling in Qualitative Research: II

151

66. Measurement in Qualitative Research: I

153

67. Measurement in Qualitative Research: II

155

68. Quality Control in Qualitative Research

157

69. Grounded Theory for Data Analysis

159

70. Consensual Qualitative Research: Analysis

161

Part I

Preparing Research Reports

163

71. The Structure of a Research Report

165

72. Writing Abstracts

167

73. Introduction and Literature Review

169

74. Describing Participants

171

75. Describing Instrumentation

173

76. Reporting Research Results

175

77. Writing the Discussion

177

78. Preparing Theses and Dissertations

179

Appendices

A. Electronic Databases for Locating Literature

181

B. Electronic Sources of Statistical Information

183

C. Excerpts from Literature Reviews

187

D. A Closer Look at the Standard Deviation

191

E. A Closer Look at Effect Size

193

F. Outline of Question Route for a Focus Group Study

195

G. Sample Abstracts of Research Reports

197

H. Sample Description of Qualitative Data Analysis

199

Tables

1. Table of Random Numbers

201

2. Table of Recommended Sample Sizes

203

Index

205